MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TULALIP TRIBES, QUIL CEDA VILLAGE, 

AND THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY PROSECUTOR REGARDING PROSECUTION OF CRIMES 

OCCURRING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE VILLAGE AND TULALIP INDIAN RESERVATION 

RECITALS 

The Snohomish County Prosecutor ("Prosecutor") has the legal authority to 

prosecute crimes committed by non-Indians within the geographic boundaries of 

Qui! Ceda Village (the "Village") and the Tulalip Indian Reservation; and 

Police referrals of alleged crimes to the Prosecutor's Office are reviewed for legal sufficiency by 

the Prosecutor's Office, and charging decisions and case disposition agreements in charged 

cases are made in accord with the written Charging and Disposition Standards adopted by the 

Prosecutor. 

The Prosecutor's Office is currently understaffed, which a) causes delays in case review and 

prosecution of charged cases, and b) curtails communication between police and prosecutors 

regarding the gathering of evidence and the presentation of evidence within the bounds of the 

law and the court rules to ensure successful prosecutions. 

The Tulalip Tribes Police Services (hereinafter the "TPD") is the primary law 

enforcement agency for all crimes committed on the Tulalip Indian Reservation and 

in the Village by Indians and non-Indians and refers criminal cases to the 

Prosecutor; and 

The Tula lip Tribes (the "Tribes"), the Village and the Prosecutor wish to improve 

efficiencies between one another, promote the interests of justice, and better serve the 

needs of law enforcement. 

UNDERSTANDING 

In conformity with Section 14(c) of the Gaming Compact between the Tula lip Tribes and the 

State of Washington, the Tula lip Tribes plan to provide the Snohomish County Prosecutor (the 

"Prosecutor") an amount of $86,866 (eighty six thousand, eight hundred sixty six dollars) 

annually for the purpose of funding one, full-time, entry-level prosecutor. 

Upon receipt of these funds, the Prosecutor plans to hire one full-time entry-level deputy 

prosecutor in the District Court Unit, whose primary duties would include timely review and 

prosecution of legally sufficient criminal charges referred by TPD. An additional entry-level 

prosecutor would enable the District Court Unit to review and prosecute cases referred from 

the TPD in a more timely manner. Furthermore, it would allow the Prosecutor to offer quarterly 

training sessions or round-table discussions to TPD on topics such as gathering evidence, writing 

search warrant affidavits, writing reports, and testifying in court. 

The Prosecutor does not anticipate declining to charge or prosecute any cases referred by the 

TPD solely due to case-loads, budgetary reasons, cut-backs, or other fiscal or management 

challenges faced by the Prosecutor. 

The Prosecutor's Point of Contact ("POC") is Bob Lenz, Operations Manager for the 
Prosecutor. Any questions regarding charging decisions and case disposition for charges 

referred by the TPD should be directed to the POC. The Tribes POC is the TPD Chief of 

Police. 

Tulalip Tribes Quil Ceda Village 

By: JVkt'i?,J tJ2Jl,___ J,-

Mel R. Sheldon Jr., Tula lip Chair 

Dated: 3 - !?,,&-::. l 6 Dated: ()- 19· I 3 

County Prosecutor